Daily Times

Nestled in the heart of Defence Housing Authority’s famous Y Block market, the Warehouse Café offers everything from fast food to pastas and steaks. In addition, there is an entire dedicated desserts menu so walk-in customers have a lot to choose from. I visited the cafe recently and here’s what I think of the place.

STRENGTHS — the interior of the double-storied restaurant takes you in at once glance. It has been very meticulously designed falling true with how it has been named. There is a ruggedness and a roughness to its furniture, and as much as the décor is synchronised and in harmony, the fact that it has been made to feel like a warehouse because of its name impresses you. Restaurants with Italian or Spanish names have hardly anything to offer to their namesake. A place needs to be spick and span as dirty and dusty atmosphere is deal breaker. One thing I noticed about the place was how neat and tidy it was, everything seemed to be in its right place an in order. The washrooms were clean and the waiters looked well-groomed.

The snooker table on the first floor, in a quiet room will rake in the most clientele. It’s a popular sport in Lahore, where men usually abstain from getting into dinghy clubs just to play it but with Warehouse offering it, with a nice view, location and food.

Very few places in Lahore offer good beef burgers and the Pit Master towers above all of them. After all, how often does it happen that a beef hater cannot get enough of a beef burger?

I like how there were no long lists for soups of when you order, hardly any of those are available. Unavailability of items listed on the menu is another deal-breaker for a restaurant. Instead, Warehouse offers a Weekly Special.

The café’s famous Pit Master burger is a must-try. It’s priced at Rs 799 and is the best thing the eatery offers. In fact, it is a meal that will make you go there over and over. I am not a beef burger fan. But I still gathered the courage to try it and I couldn’t put the burger down even for a second. It’s served with a beef patty, smoked cheddar, turkey bacon, caramelised onions, mushrooms, jalapenos and lettuce. Very few places in Lahore offer good beef burgers, and the Pit Master towers above all of them. After all, how often does it happen that a beef hater cannot get enough of a beef burger?

Warehouse Café offers waffle fries and it was the first time that I was even trying out something by this name. The attendant recommended and I said, why not? These are chips that are made in the shape of a waffle, only smaller. These were crispy and distinct and I loved having them with my meal.

Do try the restaurant’s freshly-squeezed orange juice.

WEAKNESSES — the Tempura Prawns, Mexican Seasoning Salad and Grilled Chicken Burger are not the café’s strongest items. I also felt their soup was much thicker than desired.

Published in Daily Times, January 24^th 2019.